Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Consequently'

English Word: Consequently

Key Russian Translations:

• следовательно [ˈslʲedəvətʲɪlʲnə] - [Formal, Written]
• поэтому [pəˈtʲomu] - [Neutral, Common in Speech and Writing]
• вследствие этого [ˈfslʲetstvʲɪjə ˈɛtəvə] - [Formal, Often in Explanatory Contexts]

Frequency: High (especially "поэтому")

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate; "поэтому" is easier, while "вследствие этого" is closer to B2)

Pronunciation (Russian):

следовательно: [ˈslʲedəvətʲɪlʲnə]

Note on следовательно: Stress falls on the first syllable, and the "о" is pronounced as a reduced "ə" in unstressed positions.

поэтому: [pəˈtʲomu]

Note on поэтому: Stress on the second syllable, with a soft "т" sound typical in Russian.

вследствие этого: [ˈfslʲetstvʲɪjə ˈɛtəvə]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. As a result or therefore (Logical Consequence)

Translation(s) & Context:

• следовательно - Used in formal or logical reasoning, often in written texts or academic discussions.
• поэтому - Neutral, widely used in both spoken and written Russian to indicate a reason or result.

Usage Examples:

• Он опоздал на поезд, следовательно, не смог приехать вовремя.

  He missed the train, consequently, he couldn’t arrive on time.

• Я был очень занят, поэтому не ответил на твое сообщение.

  I was very busy, consequently, I didn’t reply to your message.

• Дождь шел весь день, поэтому мы остались дома.

  It rained all day, consequently, we stayed home.

2. Due to a specific cause (Causal Explanation)

Translation(s) & Context:

• вследствие этого - Formal, often used in detailed explanations or reports to emphasize causality.

Usage Examples:

• Произошла авария, вследствие этого дорога была перекрыта.

  An accident occurred, consequently, the road was closed.

• Экономический кризис усилился, вследствие этого многие потеряли работу.

  The economic crisis worsened, consequently, many lost their jobs.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

следовательно: This is an adverb and does not change form. It remains invariable regardless of context or sentence structure.

поэтому: This is also an adverb and does not inflect. It is used consistently in all contexts.

вследствие этого: This is a prepositional phrase. "Вследствие" is a preposition that requires the genitive case for the noun it governs (e.g., "этого"). The phrase itself does not change, but the noun following "вследствие" must be in the genitive case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• таким образом (thus, in this way)
• отсюда (hence)

Note: "таким образом" is slightly more formal and explanatory, while "отсюда" can imply a logical or spatial origin.

Antonyms:

• несмотря на это (despite this)
• вопреки этому (contrary to this)

Related Phrases:

• по этой причине - "for this reason"; often interchangeable with "поэтому" in formal contexts.
• в результате - "as a result"; emphasizes the outcome rather than the logical connection.
• из-за этого - "because of this"; more causal and often used in negative contexts.

Usage Notes:

• "поэтому" is the most versatile and frequently used translation of "consequently" in everyday Russian. It fits most contexts, both spoken and written.
• "следовательно" is more formal and often appears in logical deductions or academic writing. It may sound stiff in casual conversation.
• "вследствие этого" is used specifically when emphasizing a direct cause-and-effect relationship, often in formal or written explanations. It is less common in speech.
• Pay attention to sentence structure: Russian adverbs like "поэтому" and "следовательно" often appear at the beginning or middle of a sentence, while "вследствие этого" typically appears in the middle or end.

Common Errors:

1. Overusing "следовательно" in casual speech:

Many learners use "следовательно" too often because it looks like a direct translation of "consequently." However, it sounds overly formal in everyday contexts. Instead, use "поэтому."

Incorrect: Я устал, следовательно, не пойду на вечеринку. (Sounds unnatural)

Correct: Я устал, поэтому не пойду на вечеринку.

2. Misusing "вследствие этого" without a clear cause:

Learners sometimes use this phrase without a specific causal context, which can confuse native speakers. Reserve it for formal explanations of cause and effect.

Incorrect: Я опоздал, вследствие этого не успел. (Vague and awkward)

Correct: Я опоздал, поэтому не успел.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian communication, logical connectors like "поэтому" are often used to structure arguments or explanations clearly, reflecting a cultural preference for explicit reasoning in both formal and informal contexts. Overusing formal terms like "следовательно" outside of appropriate settings (e.g., academic discussions) may make a speaker sound distant or overly pedantic.

Related Concepts:

• причина (reason)
• результат (result)
• связь (connection)